Assignment of robotic devices using predictive analytics

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11947437-B2
Application number	US-202016942071-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 29, 2020
Priority date	Jul 29, 2020
Publication date	Apr 2, 2024
Grant date	Apr 2, 2024

Abstract

Provided is a method, computer program product, and system for automatically assigning robotic devices to users based on need using predictive analytics. A processor may monitor activities performed by one or more users. The processor may determine, based on the monitoring, a set of activities that require assistance from a robotic device when being performed by the one or more users. The processor may match the set of activities to a set of capabilities related to a plurality of robotic devices. The processor may identify, based on the matching, a first robotic device that is capable of assisting the one or more users in performing a first activity of the set of activities. The processor may deploy the first robotic device to assist the one or more users in performing the first activity.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:
monitoring activities performed by one or more users;
determining, based on the monitoring, a set of activities that require assistance from a robotic device when being performed by the one or more users;
matching the set of activities to a set of capabilities related to a plurality of robotic devices, wherein the matching comprises:
generating a bipartite graph for matching the one or more users with the plurality of robotic devices;
determining a score for each of the set of capabilities based on a suitability of each of the plurality of robotic devices performing each of the set of activities;
comparing the score for each of the set of capabilities to a best fit threshold related to performing each of the set of activities; and
matching, using the bipartite graph, the one or more users with one or more robotic devices from the plurality of devices if the score for each of the set of capabilities exceeds the best fit threshold;

identifying, based on the matching, a first robotic device that is capable of assisting the one or more users in performing a first activity of the set of activities; and
deploying the first robotic device to assist the one or more users in performing the first activity.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein matching the set of activities to the set of capabilities related to the plurality of robotic devices is continuously performed when one of the set of activities has been completed.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , the method further comprising:
monitoring a performance of the first robotic device when assisting the one or more users with the first activity;
determining the first activity has been completed;
identifying, based on the matching and a current availability of the plurality of robotic devices, a second robotic device that is capable of assisting the one or more users in performing a second activity of the set of activities; and
deploying the second robotic device to assist the one or more users in performing the second activity.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein the current availability is determined by monitoring a workload of each of the plurality of robotic devices.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 3 , wherein determining the first activity has been completed utilizes a user feedback model.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein monitoring the activities performed by the one or more users is done by one or more observation devices.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 6 , wherein the one or more observation devices are selected from a group consisting of: a wearable health monitor; an Internet of Things (IoT) camera; a smart watch; a smart sensor; and a smart speaker.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 , wherein determining the set of activities includes analyzing historical data records related to the one or more users.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8 , wherein the historical data records are electronic health records.

10. A system comprising:
a processor; and
a computer-readable storage medium communicatively coupled to the processor and storing program instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform a method comprising:
monitoring activities performed by one or more users;
determining, based on the monitoring, a set of activities that require assistance from a robotic device when being performed by the one or more users;
matching the set of activities to a set of capabilities related to a plurality of robotic devices, wherein the matching comprises:
generating a bipartite graph for matching the one or more users with the plurality of robotic devices;
determining a score for each of the set of capabilities based on a suitability of each of the plurality of robotic devices performing each of the set of activities;
comparing the score for each of the set of capabilities to a best fit threshold related to performing each of the set of activities; and
matching, using the bipartite graph, the one or more users with one or more robotic devices from the plurality of devices if the score for each of the set of capabilities exceeds the best fit threshold;

identifying, based on the matching, a first robotic device that is capable of assisting the one or more users in performing a first activity of the set of activities; and
deploying the first robotic device to assist the one or more users in performing the first activity.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein matching the set of activities to the set of capabilities related to the plurality of robotic devices is continuously performed when one of the set of activities has been completed.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the method performed by the processor further comprises:
monitoring a performance of the first robotic device when assisting the one or more users with the first activity;
determining the first activity has been completed;
identifying, based on the matching and a current availability of the plurality of robotic devices, a second robotic device that is capable of assisting the one or more users in performing a second activity of the set of activities; and
deploying the second robotic device to assist the one or more users in performing the second activity.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein the current availability is determined by monitoring a workload of each of the plurality of robotic devices.

14. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith, the program instructions executable by a processor to cause the processor to perform a method comprising:
monitoring activities performed by one or more users;
determining, based on the monitoring, a set of activities that require assistance from a robotic device when being performed by the one or more users;
matching the set of activities to a set of capabilities related to a plurality of robotic devices, wherein the matching comprises:
generating a bipartite graph for matching the one or more users with the plurality of robotic devices;
determining a score for each of the set of capabilities based on a suitability of each of the plurality of robotic devices performing each of the set of activities;
comparing the score for each of the set of capabilities to a best fit threshold related to performing each of the set of activities; and
matching, using the bipartite graph, the one or more users with one or more robotic devices from the plurality of devices if the score for each of the set of capabilities exceeds the best fit threshold;

identifying, based on the matching, a first robotic device that is capable of assisting the one or more users in performing a first activity of the set of activities; and
deploying the first robotic device to assist the one or more users in performing the first activity.

15. The computer program product of claim 14 , wherein matching the set of activities to the set of capabilities related to the plurality of robotic devices is continuously performed when one of the set of activities has been completed.

16. The computer program product of claim 14 , wherein the method performed by the processor further comprises:
monitoring a performance of the first robotic device when assisting the one or more users with the first activity;
determining the first activity has been completed;
identifying, based on the matching and a current availability of the plurality of robotic devices, a sec

Assignees

• IBM

Inventors

• Scott Ii Willie L
• Pandhi Charu
• Nagar Seema
• Dey Kuntal

Classifications

• G06F11/3438 Primary

  monitoring of user actions (tracking the activity of the user H04L67/535) · CPC title

• B25J9/0084

  comprising a plurality of manipulators · CPC title

• G06F9/5011

  the resources being hardware resources other than CPUs, Servers and Terminals · CPC title

• G06N20/00

  Machine learning · CPC title

• G16H10/60

  for patient-specific data, e.g. for electronic patient records · CPC title